FEEDING LEVEL AND ORAL STEREOTYPIES IN DAIRY COWS

摘要

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of feeding strategy on the performance of oral stereotypies, such as tongue-rolling and bar-biting, and other behaviors in lactating dairy cows. Thirty-seven cows of the Swedish Red and White breed were randomly assigned into three treatments with different feeding strategies. Cows in treatment (AL) were given food ad libitum during the whole experimental period, which lasted from weeks 3 to 26 post partum. The second group (AL-R) was given food ad libitum during weeks 3 to 14 post partum, thereafter they were given food at a restricted level. The third group (R) was given food at a restricted level during the whole experiment period. All cows were offered a total mixed ration consisting of 650 g concentrate and 350 g forage per kg twice a day and their individual daily food intakes were registered. Behavioural recordings were made for 4 h on a fixed day every 2nd week, where each individual cow was observed every 2nd minute.